Flax and grass seed harvester attachment for mowing-machines.



A. PREDERICKSON & N. NIELSEN.

FLAX AND GRASS SEED HARVESTER ATTACHMENT FOR mowme MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1912.

Patented June 9, 1914.

a SHEBTSQSHBET 1.

0 f2 .3 9 i a .1 00 I i- E8 3 a 86 J; L 8 g 8 m 8 m 2 2 5 P w I") c- 3 I a Cu :2 m 2 ll r '3 :3 #371 Q; 5 0

gmoeutozs w Albert Fredericksofl &

Niels Nielsen A. FREDERIGKSON & N. NIELSEN FLAX AND GRASS SEED HABVESTBR ATTACHMENT FOR MOWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1912.

w m u m m 5 d l m e w I F me 3 2 or i T 3.? Q my m /5\ mm\ A mm f 5 w i a v i 9 n2 N2 N. m

after/un A. FREDERIGKSON & N. NIELSEN.

FLAX AND GRASS SEED HARVBSTER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1912.

1,099,495. Patented June 9,1914

mums-B11231: a.

0 0 1 8 28 P F i I l... 1

I Q \G 3 v g Q awvemtozs Albert Fredericksofi t Niels Nielsen Mb I 6 m q/vbtucooeo A. FREDERIOKSON 62; N. NIELSEN. PLAX AND GRASS SEED HARVESTER ATTACHMENT FOR mowme MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1912.

Patented June 9, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

auvewtom Albert Frede rickson Niels Nielsen A. PREDERIGKSON & N. NIELSEN. FLAX AND GRASS SEED HARVBSTER ATTACHMENT FOR MOWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY26, 1912.

1,099,495. Pa ented Jun 9, 191:1

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

5 OD SM/UQ/W'tOT/S i? Albert Frederickson 9942mm N. t &

' L 111,333.11 ,ERE DERIo s oN A lairm mmsmipe DA o'rA.

of construotion. and the coinhina-tioijl'anclarrangement of parts as will he more "fully" Toall whom it may concern f()'i'- mowing'ma'ch'ines. a

()n'e object offthe invention is" to provide 2 an attaohment of this character including-areel whi'ohmay lye-readily applied-toamoiying machine thereby convertin the same into aharvester for cutting a'l kllldsl short g'ra tlaX,*cloYer=,- alfalfa, buckwheat"- andthe like which may beKiiScharged'eon-- tinnonsly from themachine in WindroWs or" i LAX' Am}; ei mssi'snnn roi z mowiive 'ivra'onrnns fia'xan'cl grass seed harvester in loose hunrhes at ii-itervals'as'desired Anoth'e'r object-is to provic len attaoh Irent of this character ivhioh will be sim ple, strongand durable in constifiiction;ief-

"therea r'encl of a r h hand fioi'entand reliable in operation andfwhich" is provided with a reel adapterhto be- -aclfnsted forwardly, rearwarrlly and "vertically to accommodate the same "to the character of the material being out. I I I 1 With these and other objects in i iew jthe" invention consists of Certain n'ovelfeatures' il-esrriherl'an'd claimed.

In the a-eompanyingjclrawings';Figure 1. a plan View of ft'mO-W-ihg machine show-- ing our improved attachment a p-lied there to: Fig: 2 is aside View of'oneflsidethere" iot: Fig. 3 is'a'similarview of side; Fig. 4is

the opposite enlarged detail horizontal sectionl through a clearly the 'r na-nner in WhichQthedelii/ ery mechanism is driven; F1g."9 is an. enlarged FREDEiiIoK-" SON and 'NIELs NIELSEN,"'eitizens of the- United- States-, residingat New England, in the-county of Hetti'n'ger and fitate of North Dakota, have'invented eertain neW'an li 1sel-'-:{ fill Improvements in Flax-and GrassSeed Harvester Attachments for Mowing-Ma whines; and We do deolare-the fo-llowin'g to be a' fulL' clear, and'exa'ot description of the v invention, such as Will'enable-othe'rs skilled in the art to which it'appertains tomakeand" use the'same. 1:: i 1

- This invent-ion're'lates to-improvements in] attachments 1 Reterring-hi'ore particularly a vertical longitudinal sec-' tional view taken on th'e"line4'4e-ofFigjl Fig 5 is a rear iew of theinaohinm Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical rross sectional View through 'theelevatihg mechanism 'takeii on the line 66 of Fig. '1; Fig; 7is a'si'milarl view through the deliverymeohanism' taken on'the" line -7-'-'7' of Figll. Fig. -8 is an t l Spe oifioation aill e.

aLApplibatiomfiledJuly 26,-=1912i Serial No; 711 76391 1:;

swam an upward 'the frame 'a's slioiV-n'.

ma 9;:1nc'l 10 ism-pow r fr fsiclelhari N the-right han'cl' Wheel of the mower to pro- "niaeliine'. I v U I V l YTh' harvesterettachipent 'oomprises an [detail sectional we -"throug f-l1e"ll1t(1h neehanisin for throwing the 'elevating :rnowing inachine; anda portion 0 the olntch shifting mechanism 1 for throwingthe' ele- "vator o'f-"theiattachment into and" out of "gear; Fig. 11- is adeta'ihper'speot-i-ye View of one of the reel r supporting-hosts of the at taehment'; 'Fig."12-is* a, detail' vertical' 'sec "tionalWienr-ihrriugh theeutterybar and its I snpporting mechanism "f'Fig':

v -'13 is a perspeo'tive view-of the bailshape'cl'meinber and its-, adja'C-entjparts.

:to the draw ings', '1; denotes t'he' nfowing" machine to which"oiir-"inipr-oi e'd reel attachment is ap plied. The mowing machine may be of th nsnal" or any suitable construction "and to the axle ofthefsa'rnef iseonnectedf'a main 'at'tac'h-in-g" fraine comprising a rear cross bar 2' an outer-sidebar '3 Whioh'hason' its outer head 4 which is'fl'oosely "To the opposite rear bar is} connected e bar 7j'the s roeseiy "eonnected or inner ,endof th with the right hand or inner endfof' th'e axle of the mo'n' 'ingf machine as shown. Projecting forwardly froni the rear 'bar Q of the attar'hi-ng 'fi-am'e av braoket- S to which is "Pr-o7; acting hearing minda'rcl' 10 being ft'han'rl sirl'ehar of standard the sii'rfi a ranged on "the-miter o 1 le Reiolnbly' nir'jnnt'o'cl"in the "hehrin g stand isinitting shaft s'outer end 1s connected by 'a"spro=liet ohliin with a sprocket gear 6 on =theh11b oft-he outer wheel of the moiving'niahh'inwhereby thihewefii'ihnt -"(xi this Wheel isftransmittedto the shah 'l-t'ro drive the same. The right hand 5 is o fise'tat its inner end around elevatorhr cont ever supportihgirame eons'istingof "iiic linetl'sKlebars 14 connected on their upper sides adjacent to their upper ends by a cross bar and at their lower ends by a plate 16 secured to the lower edges of the side bars as shown. T 0 the rear ends of the side bars 14 of the elevator franieis connected a buncher or delivery frame 17 hereinafter described. To the inner side bar 14 of the harvester attachment is secured a laterally projecting bracket 18 while to the inner bar of the buncher frame is secured a bracket 19. In the brackets 18 and 19 is secured a longitudinally disposed attaching rod 20 with which is slidably and pivotally engaged a yoke shaped attaching frame 21 arranged on the outer end of an attaching shaft 22 which projects through the right hand side bar 7 and the bracket 8 of the main attaching frame and has its inner end secured in the bracket 8 as shown. By thus connecting the harvester attachment with the mowing machine it will be seen that the sliding pivotal connection of the yoke frame 21 with the rod 20 will permit either the harvester attachment or the mowing machine to pass over obstructions or uneven surfaces without breaking the connection. On the rod 20 between the bracket 18 and the forward end of the yoke frame 21 is arranged a coiled spring which yieldingly holds the frame in position on the rod and which will permit the harvester attachment to yield or give back when coming into en'- gagement with an obstruction, said spring furthermore relieving the parts from jars and also relieving the draft animals of the mowing machine from side jerks and strains which would be caused by the engagement of the harvester attachment with obstructions or by passing over uneven surfaces.

Revolubly mounted in the lower ends of the side bars 14 of the harvester attachment is the lower shaft or roll 23 of a lower endless elevating apron 24 the upper portion of which is engaged with an upper supporting and operating shaft 25 which is revolubly mounted in the upper portion of the side bars 14 adjacent to their lower edges as shown. The diameter of the lower shaft should be as small as possible and said shaft should be disposed as close as ossible to the lower plate 16 of the levator Frame. Revolubly mounted in th side bars 14 above the apron 24 and a short distance in rear of the shaft 23 is the front lower shaft 26 of an endless upper 'conveyer or elevator apron 27 the upper portion of which is operatively engaged with an upper shaft 28 revolubly mounted in the upper portion of the bars 14 as shown. Revolubly mounted on a short stub shaft 29 secured to and projecting outwardly from the inner side bar 14 of the elevator frame is a power transmitting gear 30 which is operatively engaged with a similar gear 31 fixed on the ad acent end of the upper shaft 25 of the lower apron 24 whereby this apron is driven in the proper direction. The gear 31 is also engaged with a spur gear 32 on the adjacent end of the upper shaft 28 of the upper apron 27 whereby said shaft and apron are drivenin the proper direction to co-act with the lower apron for elevating the material cut by the harvester.

Connected to the hub of the power transmitting gear 30 is a universal joint 33 while to the inner end of the power transmitting shaft 11 is a universal joint 34. The joint 33' has secured thereto the socket member of av sliding connection, the tongue member 36 thereof being secured to or forming part of the universal joint 34 on the end of the shaft 11. The socket member 35 is provided with a squared opening to receive the squared tongue member 36 whereby said members are slidably engaged but are pre vented from turning on each other. By thus connecting the power transmitting shaft 11 with the hub of the power transmitting gear 30 it will be seen that the movement of the shaft 11 will be communicated to the gear 30 and through the latter to the gears 31 and 32 of the shafts of the upper and lower elevator of the conveyer apron whereby the latter are driven in the proper direction when the machine is drawn through the field. The universal sliding joint connection between the power transmitting shaft 11 and the gear 30 permits the mowing machine and harvester to have limited independent movements without interfering with the operation of the driving mechanism. Secured to the outer side of the lower end of the inner side bar 14 of the elevator frame is a bearing bracket 37 while to the outer side of the lower end of the outer side bar 7 of the elevator frame is secured a bearing bracket 38. To the bearing bracket 37 is hingedly connected the rear end of the inner shoe 39 of the sickle bar 40 while the outer shoe 41 of the sickle bar is pivotally connected to the bracket 38 on the outer side bar of the elevator frame. To the sickle bar 40 is connected a plate 42 which projects rearwardly and is designed to cover the space or crack between the rear edge of the sickle bar and the forward edge of the plate 16 connecting the lower ends of the side bars of the elevator frame whereby the material cut by the sickle is prevented from falling through this space.

The buneher frame 17 comprises a pair of transversely disposed side bars 43 connected at their lower edges by a bottom plate 44. The frame 17 is closed atthe outer or right hand end by an end plate 45 and to the upper side of theouter bar 43 is secured an upwardly projecting guard plate 46. The inner or left hand end of the frame is open and said end extends a short distance beyond the inner side of the elevator frame as shown.

Revolubly mounted in the inner ends of the side bars 43 is an inner apron supporting shaft 47 while between the opposite ends of the side bars is revolubly mounted an outer conveyer or apron supporting or operating shaft 48. It will be noted that the inner shaft 47 is somewhat smaller and is revolubly mounted in a lower plane than the outer shaft whereby the buncher or delivery apron 49. will be operated at a slight inclination toward the discharge end of the buncher frame. The apron a9 is preferably secured to a series of endless belts 50 and said apron is provided with suitable slats 51 whereby the cut material discharged onto the buncher apron bv the elevating and conveying aprons will be positively carried along and discharged from the open end of the buncher frame when the shaft 4:8 is driven.

The driving mechanism for the buncher apron comprises a bevel gear 52 which is fixed on the inner end of the shaft 48 of the apron and which is engaged by a similar gear 53 revolubly mounted on a short stub shaft 54 secured to and projecting from; the outer side of the buncher frame. On the hub of the gear 53 is arranged a sprocket gear which is connected by a sprocket chain 56 with a sprocket gear 57 loosely mounted on the adjacent projecting end of the upper drive shaft 25 of the lower elevating or conveying apron 24. On the gear 57 is formed one member of a friction clutch 58 said member comprising a circular band projecting laterally from the outer side of the gear as shown. 59 of the clutch comprises a cross bar or head having its GIIClSyI'OUfldCd to fit the curved surface of the gear member of the clutch. said ends of the bar being tapered or inclined inwardly to a slight extent as shown. By thus constructing the clutch connection between the gear 57 and the shaft it will be seen that when said gear and its clutch member are shifted outwardly. said clutch member will be brought into operative engagement with the clutch member on the shaft thereby locking the gear 57 to the shaft. \Vhen the gear is thus locked to the shaft the movement thereof is imparted through the chain 56, sprocket gear and bevel gears 53 and 52 to the shaft of the buncher apron whereby the latter is driven. The gear 57 is shifted inwardly to normally held the clutch member thereon out of operative engagement with the clutch member on the shaft by a coiled spring arranged between the gearand the outer side of the adjacent side bar of the elevating frame. When the clutch members are en gaged the buncher mechanism will be continuously driven to discharge the material in windrows.

In order to engage the clutch members to permit the material to be delivered continu- The opposing member ous in windrows we provide a suitable clutch shifting mechanism comprising a lever 60 which is pivotally connected to a bracket 61 on the outer side of the adjacent side bar of the frame and which is provided with a forked outer end engaged with an annular groove 62 in the hub of the sprocket gear 57 whereby when the lever is operated in the proper direction the gear together with the clutch member thereon will be retracted and disengaged from the clutch member on the shaft 25 thereby throwing the bunching mechanism out of gear. The free end of the lever 60 is connected by a rod 63 to the lower end of a rocker bar 64 pivoted on the attaching rod 20. The upper end of the rocker bar 64 is connected by a short rod 65 to one arm of a bell crank lever 66 pivoted on the bracket 8 on the rear bar 1 of the attaching frame. The opposite arm of the bell crank lever 66 is connected by a rod 67 with a foot lever 68 also pivotally mounted on the bracket 8 within convenient reach of the foot of the driver or operator whereby the same may be shifted to engage the clutch members of the bunching mechanism so that the latter may be stopped and started at will. thus providing av continuous or periodical delivery of the material discharged to the bum-hing mechanism as hereinbefore described.

The rear portion of the harvester attachment is supported by a single caster or swiveled wheel 69 which is pivotally mounted in a. suitable bearing bracket 70 secured to the outer side of the forward side bar of the buncher mechanism substantially midway between the sides of the harvester attachment whereby the latter is supported and balanced on the caster wheel. The forward end of the attachment is suitably supported at the outer side of the same by a supporting wheel 71 which is revolubly mounted on a short stub shaft 72 arranged in the lower portion of the outer side bar of the elevator frame, said shaft having its outer end revolubly mounted in a bearing plate 7 2 secured to the outer side bars of the frame over the wheel 71 as shown. Our attachment also includes a reel mounted on standards 73 and 74. The outer standard 7 1 has secured to its lower end attaching plates 75 which are disposed on opposite sides of the outer side bar 1 1 and are pivotally mounted on the shaft 72 of the supporting wheel 71. The standard 74 is further connected to the shaft 72 and braced by an outer bracing plate 7 6 passing over the wheel 71 as shown. The lower end of the standard 73 has secured thereto attaching plates 77 which are pivotally connected with a stub shaft 78 mounted in the inner side bar 14 and in a bearing bracket 79 -secured to said side bar as shown. The shaft 78 is disposed in line with the shaft 72 to which the standard 74 is connected. The standard 73 is furtherbraced and connected to the shaft 78'by'a brace bar 80 the' 'lower' end'of which is pivotally' conneeted'to the outer end of the shaft while the upper end "thereof is connected to the standard as shown.

' Slidably mounted on the standards 7 3 and 74 a're'reel supporting boxes 81 inwhich is mounted the body portion of a bail shaped upper end of the reehmemb'er f 82'on whose bodyportion be-; tween" the boxes 81 and the'sta-ndards 73 and 74 journa led a reel 83. The arms of the member extend to the rear and are pivotally connected to the'upper ends of inner and outer fu'lcrurnjbars 84 and 85. The outer-arm projects a short distance beyond after described. The inner arm'of thebail its connection with the bar 85' and 'is'conne'cted by a coiled spring 86 with the lower portion'ofthe bar 85' fora purpose hereinshaped" member 82 is extended into or has secured thereto a rearwardly projecting lev'cr' 87.

shaft 88 revolubly mounted in the upper en d of the inner fulcrum bar 84' and-'in a parallel bearing plate 89 secured to said bar 'as'shown; By thus supporting the'reel on the standards 73 and 74 and providing the, lever 87 it will be seen that the boxes 81 to This arm rocks on a counter gether with the shaft 82 and the reel may be raised and lowered to the desired elevation "on'the' standards 78 and 74 to bring the blades of'the reel into proper position" for engaging the grass or other material being" cut. In order to support the reel at the de-' sired elevation'we provide a locking pin 90" which'is mounted in a transverse passage in the'box 81 o'f the standard 73' and'which is adapted to be projected and retracted in the hox to engage and disengage the end thereof with and from a series of pin holes or sockets 91 formed in the rear side of the standard 78. The pin 90 is connected by an operating rod 92 with a bell crank lever 93 pivoted in the outei lend of thejlev'er 87 as shown.

The reel supporting standards 73 and 74 are adapted to be swung forwardly and rearwardly to adjust the reel in this direction by means of a rock shaft 94 which 'is mounted in suitable bearings on the upper edges of the side bars 14 of the elevator frame and which has on its ends upwardly projecting crank arms 95 connected by links 96 to the standards 73 and 74 whereby when the shaft is rocked forwardly or rearwardly the stand 'ards and reel will be shifted in a corresponding'direction. To the'crank arm 95 on one end of the shaft 94 is secured an upwardly projecting operating lever 97 provided with a pawl 98 adaptedtobe'engaged with a segmental rack 99 whereby the lever may be lockedto hold the reel in the position to whichthe same has been adjusted. The reel 83 comprises bearing sleeves. or hubs 100 'r'evolubly mounted on the body; portion of the member 82 and having -squared'inner 1 ends. which are connected by parallel bars or plates- 101. On the hubslOO' are fixed a series'of radially projecting arms 102f'conn'ected at their outer e'n'ds' by blades or paddles 103. A Any'suitable number of arms and blades maybe provided. "The 're'el' when [thus constructed is revolved atfthe' proper speed and in' the proper direction by a sprocket gear 104 which is fixedly connected by a chain 105 to a sprocket gear 106' fixed on one end of the counter shaft 88 on the opposite end of whichis fixed-"asprocket gear 107 connected by a sprocketchain 108 with a sprocket gear 109- loosely mounted on the stub shaft'78; T Integral withor fixed to the gear 109 is a second sprocket gear 110 which is connected by a sprocket chain 111 to a sprocket gear 112 formed integral with Or -fixed to the driving gear '32 of the upper shaft 28 of tlie'upper elevator or conveyor apron 27. By thus connecting the reel with the gear 32 it will be seen that the reel will 1 be driven in thefproper directionfrom the power transmitting shaft which" isoperative'ly connected wi'th the'g'ear'32'a's hereinbefore described. I

The sickle bar 40 is-connected to the mowing machine and operatedlby the usual or any suitable connecting and driving" mechanism. The inner shoe 39-of'the" sickle'bar is the same as employed in the mowing machine. The usual outer shoe *of the sickle bar or cutting mechanism is,'howeve'r; preferably removed" and the straight shoe 41 is connected to the outer end of the sickle bar supporting mechanism asshowni";

By cons'truct-ingand arranging our improved attachment as'herein shown and de scribed it will be seen that no matter how short the grass or other material to be out may he the-attachment will effectually out an'doonvey the same to the bunching mechanism-from which it may be continuously discharged in a 'Win'dr'owor'p'eriodically discharged in loose bunches as hereinbefore described." By providing the reeland elevating or conveying mechanism as herein shown and described the grass' or otherma/ 'terialmay be out in very windy'we'ather without danger of being blown from the machine and wasted, and'the material when out is carried directly ba'ckfrom th'ecutting mechanism thus obviating any possibility of the material acc-umulatingan'd clogging or interferingwith the pe'ra'ti'on of'the cutout of engagement with the member on the gear by a clutch shifting lever 114: suitably pivoted to the frame of the machine and connected to the clutch member by a link 115 and a pivoted shifting bar 116 as shown.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is;

1. The herein described attachment for mowing machines comprising pivot-s in the machine frame, standards mounted at their lower ends on said pivots, means for swinging the standards forward and backward in unison, fulcrum bars supported on the said pivots, boxes slidably mounted on said standards, a bail-shaped reel supporting member whose body portion is loosely connected with said boxes and whose arms extend to the rear and are pivotally connected with said fulcrum bars, a handle on the rear extremity of one arm for raising and lowering the body portion of said reel supporting member, a spring connecting the rear extremity of the other arm with the fulcrum bar to which this arm is pivoted, a reel revolubly mounted on said body portion, and means for rotating the reel.

2. The herein described attachment for mowing machines comprising alined stub shafts in the machine frame, standards mounted at their lower ends on said. shafts, means for swinging the standards forward and backward in unison, fulcrum bars supported on the same shafts, boxes slidably mounted on said standards, a bail-shaped reel supporting member whose body portion is loosely connected with said boxes and whose arms extend to the rear and are pivotally connected with said fulcrum bars, a handle on one arm for raising and lowering the body portion of said reel supporting member, a reel revolubly mounted on said body portion, a sprocket wheel on the reel shaft, connected sprocket wheels on the pivotal shaft which passes through one fulcrum bar and one arm of said reel supporting member, a driving sprocket on the stub shaft supporting said fulcrum bar, a chain connecting the driving sprocket with one of those on said pivotal shaft, and a second chain connecting the other sprocket on said pivotal shaft with that on said reel, for the purpose set forth.

3. The herein described attachment for mowing 111301131165 comprising standards pivot-ally mounteo at their lower ends on stub shafts in the side bars of the machine, a rock shaft mounted in bearings on said side bars, crank arms on said shaft connected with said standards, an operating lever projecting from said shaft, fulcrum bars sup ported on the said stub shafts, boxes slidably mounted on said standards, a bailshaped reel supporting member whose body portion is pivotally connected with said blocks and whose arms extend to the rear and are pivotally connected with said fulcrum bars, a handle on one arm for raising and lowering the body portion of said reel supporting member, a reel revolubly mounted on said body portion, and means for rotating the reel.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT FREDERICKSON. NIELS NIELSEN.

Witnesses JOHN A. Box-mrrorr, HENRY MELAAS. 

